Red Mansion: Holding Space and Marrying Like the Sea

Meanwhile, on the other side, although Xue Baochai was filled with worry about her brother, she had no other choice but to stay at home quietly and anxiously await news. She was well aware of the interests involved in this matter, so every day, besides studying poetry and writing carefully, she spent most of the rest of her time praying devoutly to the Buddha, praying that God would bless everything to go smoothly and safely. Aunt Xue, who was also at home, was even more uneasy. She could not sit or stand all day, her heart always hanging in the air, eagerly hoping that her nephew Xue Ke, who was out on business, would bring back good news as soon as possible.

In this way, the days passed one by one, and everyone suffered in the long wait. Finally, after a few days, the confidant who was sent out to inquire about the situation finally brought back a response. The messenger said cryptically:

"The matter has been almost completed, but there were some twists and turns in the middle. Someone put pressure on the county magistrate to handle it according to the law." Aunt Xue's face turned pale when she heard this, "What should we do? Who is putting pressure behind the scenes?" The confidant shook his head, indicating that he didn't know.

Baochai was panicking, but she managed to remain calm and said, "Don't worry, mother. Let's think this over carefully. Our plan now is to either find the person who put the pressure on us and resolve this, or find some other way to remedy the situation."

Just as everyone was feeling gloomy, Madam Wang suddenly arrived. She had heard about this and was hoping to profit from it. Madam Wang's eyes flickered, and a plan came to mind. "I do know a few officials. Although the county magistrate is following the law, there are loopholes. Why not prepare generous gifts, ask those friends in the officialdom to test the magistrate's will, and then use some money to bribe them. If the pressure is eased, there might be room for a change." After hearing Madam Wang's words, the mother and daughter exchanged bewilderment, then began whispering among themselves. Their voices, though low, were still a cacophony in the quiet room. For a moment, a cacophony of speculation, worry, and hope filled the air, creating a tense and solemn atmosphere.

After a long while, the mother and daughter seemed to have reached some kind of consensus. They looked at each other and nodded slightly. Perhaps after careful consideration, they really believed that the method proposed by Mrs. Wang might work.

At this moment, Aunt Xue could no longer sit still. She stood up hastily and, without hesitation, gave orders to the servants beside her: "Hurry up and pack up all the money and property you can afford, and pick out some of the most valuable gifts to take with you! Hurry, and don't waste any time!" She continued to urge the servants to hurry, her anxious expression as if her life was on the line. At this moment, she had only one thought in mind: to resolve this crisis that was causing her so much anxiety, and to do everything she could to rescue her beloved son, Xue Pan, who was imprisoned.

However, unlike her distraught mother, Baochai, standing quietly by, was now pondering something else. Her intelligent eyes gazed into the distance, her thoughts already drifting to the unfathomable world of officialdom. She knew all too well the darkness and complexity of the officialdom. Even if she succeeded in bribing her brother and securing his release from prison, she feared she would inevitably face similar troubles again. Thinking of this, Baochai couldn't help but frown, a hint of worry on her face.

Moreover, as she glanced at Mrs. Wang, a strange feeling of unease welled up within her. She knew her aunt was a person who would not act without a profit, but this time, she was so proactive in rescuing Xue Pan that it was truly puzzling. Could there be some hidden secret or conspiracy? Although she was filled with doubts, the situation was urgent, and Baochai could not directly reject Mrs. Wang's kindness. So, she had to suppress her doubts for the time being and decided to go along with her plan to see how things would develop.

Soon, the servants had the money and gifts ready. Aunt Xue, anxious, hurried to the Jia family, dragging her daughter Baochai along with her.

Arriving at the Jia residence, the two, without even taking a breath, rushed straight to where Lady Wang was. Upon meeting her, Aunt Xue and Baochai hurriedly bowed and greeted Lady Wang, followed by a profuse outpouring of gratitude. Then, with tears streaming down their faces, the mother and daughter earnestly pleaded with Lady Wang to intervene and intercede for them with the appropriate authorities.

Mrs. Wang, with a gracious smile on her face, nodded repeatedly in agreement, vowing to do her utmost to help them overcome this difficult situation. However, Baochai, standing nearby, discreetly observed the shifts in Mrs. Wang's expression. She saw that, despite her cheerful agreement, a subtle glint of smugness lingered in her features. This subtle shift in expression gave the intelligent Baochai a jolt of fear, and she felt more and more that this matter might not be as simple as it appeared.

After Aunt Xue and Baochai left, filled with hope and joy, Mrs. Wang immediately put away her warm and kind expression and quickly walked into the inner chamber. She came to the cabinet where the jewelry was kept, and her eyes swept through the dazzling array of treasures, finally selecting a particularly dazzling and priceless treasure. Mrs. Wang carefully placed each of these treasures into an exquisite brocade box, then gently closed the lid to ensure that nothing was lost.

After finishing her preparations, Madam Wang walked gracefully into the inner chamber. She paused for a moment, then summoned one of her most trusted servants. The man, with a look of awe and respect, stepped forward quickly and respectfully. He then stood firmly before Madam Wang, bowing slightly, his hands hanging naturally, his gaze focused, awaiting instructions.

At this moment, Madam Wang's face was solemn, and she deliberately lowered her voice, fearing that others might overhear her. Her gaze was sharp as a knife, fixed closely on the person before her, and she slowly spoke, "This matter is of great importance. You must quickly go and do something important. Take this brocade box with you, and be sure to find that lord. Remember, this trip must succeed, not fail. No matter what, you must do everything you can to get this done properly! If even the slightest mistake occurs, I will certainly not let you off easily!" With these words, Madam Wang's expression was serious and solemn, and she carefully handed the brocade box to the man.

The moment he accepted the brocade box, the servant felt a weight of responsibility on his shoulders. He knew this matter was crucial to his master's success and failure, and he dared not neglect it. So, he nodded solemnly, agreed, and then turned and hurried away, his figure quickly disappearing into the depths of the courtyard.

Time flew by, and just as everyone was getting anxious, news finally arrived from Madam Wang. She told the Xue family that after much effort and hard work, she had successfully secured a rare opportunity for Xue Pan: a meeting with the local county magistrate. This would allow Xue Pan and his entourage to openly and honestly explain their secrets to the magistrate.

That morning, before daybreak, Aunt Xue and Baochai rose early. After washing and dressing, they hurried out to the county government office, filled with anticipation and trepidation. Arriving at the gate, it was still early, but the mother and daughter were in no mood to think about anything else. They simply stood quietly outside, waiting patiently.

Time ticked by, and finally the county magistrate appeared. Aunt Xue and Baochai hurried forward to greet him, both bowing. When the magistrate stopped, they couldn't wait to begin their tearful and earnest speech, explaining that Xue Pan hadn't meant to hurt anyone, and that their family was willing to pay a large compensation. However, to their surprise, the magistrate remained expressionless, seemingly unmoved by their cries. He simply said coldly, "The law cannot be abolished!"

Just as the situation reached a stalemate, Aunt Xue secretly winked at the servant who had followed her. The servant understood and quickly pulled out a long-prepared banknote from his pocket. While no one was paying attention, he quietly slipped it into the magistrate's hand and whispered a few words in his ear. The moment the magistrate took the banknote, his previously cold eyes flickered noticeably, and the tense muscles on his face relaxed slightly, his attitude softening slightly. He coughed lightly, cleared his throat, and said, "Well... In that case, this magistrate will naturally re-examine the evidence in this case carefully."

Hearing this, everyone present couldn't help but feel happy, as if they had seen a glimmer of hope. But who could have imagined that the good times wouldn't last long. A few days later, another piece of depressing news arrived. It turned out that those who had previously put pressure on the Xue family had somehow learned of Aunt Xue and others' actions. They once again issued a stern warning to the county magistrate, ordering him to stop using his power for personal gain or bend the law, otherwise he would bear the consequences.

The county magistrate was so frightened by this warning that he broke out in a cold sweat. He knew the methods of those people very well and dared not show any favoritism. When Aunt Xue and Baochai learned about it, they were anxious but helpless.

When Aunt Xue and Baochai were at their wit's end, Baochai's eyes suddenly lit up. "Mother, I have an idea," Baochai whispered. Aunt Xue looked at her eagerly, her eyes filled with hope.